SDNHM Mammology Collection

Philip Unitt

doi:10.15468/estih7

SDNHM Mammology Collection

Citation

Unitt P (2020). SDNHM Mammology Collection. Version 1.3. San Diego Natural History Museum. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/estih7 accessed via GBIF.org on 2025-06-15.

Description

Mammals: About 23,450 specimens, about 20,000 skins, almost all with accompanying skulls. About 960 complete skeletons, including virtually all species of southern California and a broad variety of marine mammals, both pinnipeds and cetaceans. The mammal collection was first accredited by the American Society of Mammalogy in 1975 and most recently re-accredited in 1995. Taxonomic coverage: Almost all species of western North America, including Baja California. Rodents are by far the group best represented, with over 20,200 specimens. Other notable components are over 1900 specimens covering 52 species of bats, 236 specimens covering 28 species of cetaceans, and 142 specimens covering 14 species of pinnipeds. Of mammal families worldwide, 80 are represented, a coverage extended by the museum's status as a repository for specimens from the San Diego Zoo. 6150 specimens are from the peninsula of Baja California and are the foundation of Laurence M. Huey’s “The Mammals of Baja California, Mexico (Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 13:85-168, 1964). 5271 specimens from San Diego County are the foundation of the San Diego County Mammal Atlas (Proc. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 46, 2017), which addresses the identification, distribution, and ecology of San Diego County's mammals. Type specimens: Holotypes of 87 subspecies and 2 species.

Sampling Description

Method steps

Additional info

http://vertnet.org/resources/norms.html

Taxonomic Coverages

The collection encompasses >20,200 specimens of rodents, >1900 of bats, >1140 of carnivores, >740 of insectivores, >540 of lagomorphs, and 236 of cetaceans.

Mammalia
rank: class

Geographic Coverages

Global, with emphasis in California (>11,600 specimens), Baja California (6150 specimens), Arizona (>3250 specimens), and Oregon (1576 specimens).

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Philip Unitt
originator
position: Curator
San Diego Natural History Museum
1788 El Prado, Balboa Park
San Diego
92101
CA
US
Telephone: +01 619-255-0235
email: birds@sdnhm.org
homepage: http://www.sdnhm.org/

Philip Unitt
metadata author
position: Curator
San Diego Natural History Museum
1788 El Prado, Balboa Park
San Diego
92101
CA
US
Telephone: +01 619-255-0235
email: birds@sdnhm.org
homepage: http://www.sdnhm.org/

David Bloom
programmer
position: Project Coordinator
VertNet
email: dbloom@vertnet.org
homepage: http://www.vertnet.org/

John Wieczorek
programmer
position: Information Architect
VertNet
email: tuco@berkeley.edu
homepage: http://www.vertnet.org

Philip Unitt
administrative point of contact
position: Curator
San Diego Natural History Museum
1788 El Prado, Balboa Park
San Diego
92101
CA
US
Telephone: +01 619-255-0235
email: birds@sdnhm.org
homepage: http://www.sdnhm.org/